Café Buono!: H!P’s Most Original Album?

Buono!’s upcoming album, Café Buono!, has nine new tracks, out of a total of twelve. This struck me as quite an impressive number, so I decided to look at H!P’s total album output and see how many original tracks were on each.

I considered all official albums containing work primarily by Hello! Project artists, including mini-albums, best-of albums, and compilation albums, but not including singles, soundtracks, or remix albums. For the purposes of this assessment, “original” refers to tracks not previously released on an official Hello! Project CD, and does not include alternate versions, remixes, rearrangements, instrumentals, covers of recordings previously released by Hello! Project, or openings, endings, and interludes that aren’t complete songs. Covers of non-H!P recordings are included if the artist is the first H!P artist to cover the respective recording, since I have no easy way to determine with certainty whether a song is a cover or not.

Results appear below in Table A, sorted by number of original tracks, and Table B, sorted by release date. I haven’t double-checked these figures, so there may be some errors.

Assuming all of the 9 new tracks are complete songs (this preview suggests that at least 8 of them are), it looks as though Café Buono! beats out most of the competition. Given that the Iida and W albums consist largely of covers, and that Ai no Dai 6 Kan‘s count includes two tracks originally from a musical that weren’t released on CD, I think we can say that Café Buono! and Matsuura’s Double Rainbow tie for the title of “most original” H!P album, by number of new tracks alone, if all new tracks on these albums are non-covers.

Can’t wait … ^_^

EDIT: I just realized I completely forgot about the FOLK SONGS and Douyou Pops series. But these are cover albums anyway. I’ll fill them in later…

Table A: Sorted by Original Tracks

Album Title

Artist Name

Release Date

Total Tracks

Original Tracks

Duo U&U

W

2004-06-02

15

14

Plein d’Amour ~Ai ga Ippai~

Iida Kaori

2005-12-21

12

12

Osavurio ~Ai wa Matte Kurenai~

Iida Kaori

2003-04-23

10

10

Paradinome ~Koi ni Mi wo Yudanete~

Iida Kaori

2003-10-22

10

10

Avenir ~Mirai~

Iida Kaori

2004-12-29

12

10

Double Rainbow

Matsuura Aya

2007-10-10

11

9

Café Buono!

Buono!

2008-02-20

12

9

Ai no Dai 6 Kan

Morning Musume

2004-12-08

12

9

2nd W

W

2005-03-02

13

9

3rd-LOVE Paradise

Morning Musume

2000-03-29

12

8

4th “Ikimasshoi!”

Morning Musume

2002-03-27

13

8

Rainbow 7

Morning Musume

2006-02-15

12

8

Dai 1 Shou

Nakazawa Yuko

1998-12-12

12

8

1st GOODSAL

Ongaku Gatas

2008-02-06

10

8

2nd ~Shimiwataru Omoi~

Abe Natsumi

2006-03-29

12

7

1st Cho Berryz

Berryz Koubou

2004-07-07

12

7

4th Ai no Nanchara Shisuu

Berryz Koubou

2007-08-01

11

7

1st GAM ~Amai Yuuwaku~

GAM

2007-05-23

11

7

How to use SEXY

Goto Maki

2007-09-19

10

7

Teenage Dream

Heike Michiyo

1998-03-25

11

7

First Kiss

Matsuura Aya

2002-01-01

11

7

T.W.O

Matsuura Aya

2003-01-29

12

7

THE Nimaime

Melon Kinenbi

2004-12-01

12

7

Mini Moni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan

Mini Moni

2002-06-26

16

7

First Time

Morning Musume

1998-07-08

10

7

SEXY 8 BEAT

Morning Musume

2007-03-21

11

7

3rd ~LOVE Escalation~

C-ute

2008-03-12

10

6

3rd Station

Goto Maki

2005-02-23

11

6

X3

Matsuura Aya

2004-01-01

11

6

Second Morning

Morning Musume

1999-07-28

12

6

No. 5

Morning Musume

2003-03-26

13

6

2nd STAGE

T&C Bomber

2000-09-27

11

6

Tanpopo 1

Tanpopo

1999-03-31

10

6

Suite Room Number 1

v-u-den

2005-10-26

13

6

Hitoribocchi

Abe Natsumi

2004-02-04

12

5

25 ~Vingt-Cinq~

Abe Natsumi

2007-03-14

7

5

Dai 2 Seichouki

Berryz Koubou

2005-11-16

12

5

2 mini ~Ikiru to Iu Chikara~

C-ute

2007-04-18

5

5

Naked Songs

Matsuura Aya

2006-11-29

12

5

Melon Juice

Melon Kinenbi

2007-12-12

7

5

7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume. Mini!

Morning Musume

2006-12-13

6

5

Taiyo & Ciscomoon 1

Taiyo to Ciscomoon

1999-10-27

15

5

Kirarin Land

Tsukishima Kirari starring Kusumi Koharu

2007-12-19

11

5

MIKI 1

Fujimoto Miki

2003-02-26

11

4

Makking GOLD 1

Goto Maki

2003-02-05

11

4

2 Paint It Gold

Goto Maki

2004-01-28

11

4

Mini Moni Songs 2

Mini Moni

2004-02-11

16

4

Mitsuboshi

Tsukishima Kirari starring Kusumi Koharu

2007-02-28

10

4

Cutie Queen VOL.1

C-ute

2006-10-25

9

3

1st Anniversary

Melon Kinenbi

2003-03-12

13

3

Dai 2 Shou ~Tsuyogari~

Nakazawa Yuko

2004-07-22

12

3

Zenbu! Pucchi Moni

Pucchi Moni

2002-08-21

11

3

Pucchi Best 3

various

2002-12-18

17

3

3 Natsu Natsu Mini Berryz

Berryz Koubou

2006-07-05

6

2

Country Musume Daizenshuu 1

Country Musume

2001-12-12

11

2

Pucchi Best 4

various

2003-12-17

17

2

Pucchi Best 5

various

2004-12-22

16

2

Special! Best Mini ~2.5 Maime no Kare~

Berryz Koubou

2005-12-07

6

1

Country Musume Daizenshuu 2

Country Musume

2006-08-23

12

1

Goto Maki Premium Best 1

Goto Maki

2005-12-14

17

1

For ourself ~Single History~

Heike Michiyo

2000-09-13

10

1

FRUITY KILLER TUNE

Melon Kinenbi

2006-12-06

14

1

Best! Morning Musume 1

Morning Musume

2001-01-31

15

1

Best! Morning Musume 2

Morning Musume

2004-03-31

12

1

Morning Musume ALL SINGLES COMPLETE ~10th ANNIVERSARY~

Morning Musume

2007-10-24

35

1

All of Tanpopo

Tanpopo

2002-09-04

13

1

v-u-den Single Best 9 Vol.1 Omaketsuki

v-u-den

2007-11-21

10

1

Pucchi Best 7

various

2006-12-20

17

1

Pucchi Best 8

various

2007-12-12

17

1

Aya Matsuura Best 1

Matsuura Aya

2005-03-24

16

0

Hawaiian de Kiku Morning Musume Single Collection

Takagi Boo et al.

2002-07-10

12

0

Pucchi Best Ki Ao Aka

various

2000-04-26

16

0

Together!

various

2001-04-18

14

0

Pucchi Best 2

various

2001-12-19

15

0

Pucchi Best 6

various

2005-12-21

16

0

Table B: Sorted by Release Date

Album Title

Artist Name

Release Date

Total Tracks

Original Tracks

Teenage Dream

Heike Michiyo

1998-03-25

11

7

First Time

Morning Musume

1998-07-08

10

7

Dai 1 Shou

Nakazawa Yuko

1998-12-12

12

8

Tanpopo 1

Tanpopo

1999-03-31

10

6

Second Morning

Morning Musume

1999-07-28

12

6

Taiyo & Ciscomoon 1

Taiyo to Ciscomoon

1999-10-27

15

5

3rd-LOVE Paradise

Morning Musume

2000-03-29

12

8

Pucchi Best Ki Ao Aka

various

2000-04-26

16

0

For ourself ~Single History~

Heike Michiyo

2000-09-13

10

1

2nd STAGE

T&C Bomber

2000-09-27

11

6

Best! Morning Musume 1

Morning Musume

2001-01-31

15

1

Together!

various

2001-04-18

14

0

Country Musume Daizenshuu 1

Country Musume

2001-12-12

11

2

Pucchi Best 2

various

2001-12-19

15

0

First Kiss

Matsuura Aya

2002-01-01

11

7

4th “Ikimasshoi!”

Morning Musume

2002-03-27

13

8

Mini Moni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan

Mini Moni

2002-06-26

16

7

Hawaiian de Kiku Morning Musume Single Collection

Takagi Boo et al.

2002-07-10

12

0

Zenbu! Pucchi Moni

Pucchi Moni

2002-08-21

11

3

All of Tanpopo

Tanpopo

2002-09-04

13

1

Pucchi Best 3

various

2002-12-18

17

3

T.W.O

Matsuura Aya

2003-01-29

12

7

Makking GOLD 1

Goto Maki

2003-02-05

11

4

MIKI 1

Fujimoto Miki

2003-02-26

11

4

1st Anniversary

Melon Kinenbi

2003-03-12

13

3

No. 5

Morning Musume

2003-03-26

13

6

Osavurio ~Ai wa Matte Kurenai~

Iida Kaori

2003-04-23

10

10

Paradinome ~Koi ni Mi wo Yudanete~

Iida Kaori

2003-10-22

10

10

Pucchi Best 4

various

2003-12-17

17

2

X3

Matsuura Aya

2004-01-01

11

6

2 Paint It Gold

Goto Maki

2004-01-28

11

4

Hitoribocchi

Abe Natsumi

2004-02-04

12

5

Mini Moni Songs 2

Mini Moni

2004-02-11

16

4

Best! Morning Musume 2

Morning Musume

2004-03-31

12

1

Duo U&U

W

2004-06-02

15

14

1st Cho Berryz

Berryz Koubou

2004-07-07

12

7

Dai 2 Shou ~Tsuyogari~

Nakazawa Yuko

2004-07-22

12

3

THE Nimaime

Melon Kinenbi

2004-12-01

12

7

Ai no Dai 6 Kan

Morning Musume

2004-12-08

12

9

Pucchi Best 5

various

2004-12-22

16

2

Avenir ~Mirai~

Iida Kaori

2004-12-29

12

10

3rd Station

Goto Maki

2005-02-23

11

6

2nd W

W

2005-03-02

13

9

Aya Matsuura Best 1

Matsuura Aya

2005-03-24

16

0

Suite Room Number 1

v-u-den

2005-10-26

13

6

Dai 2 Seichouki

Berryz Koubou

2005-11-16

12

5

Special! Best Mini ~2.5 Maime no Kare~

Berryz Koubou

2005-12-07

6

1

Goto Maki Premium Best 1

Goto Maki

2005-12-14

17

1

Pucchi Best 6

various

2005-12-21

16

0

Plein d’Amour ~Ai ga Ippai~

Iida Kaori

2005-12-21

12

12

Rainbow 7

Morning Musume

2006-02-15

12

8

2nd ~Shimiwataru Omoi~

Abe Natsumi

2006-03-29

12

7

3 Natsu Natsu Mini Berryz

Berryz Koubou

2006-07-05

6

2

Country Musume Daizenshuu 2

Country Musume

2006-08-23

12

1

Cutie Queen VOL.1

C-ute

2006-10-25

9

3

Naked Songs

Matsuura Aya

2006-11-29

12

5

FRUITY KILLER TUNE

Melon Kinenbi

2006-12-06

14

1

7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume. Mini!

Morning Musume

2006-12-13

6

5

Pucchi Best 7

various

2006-12-20

17

1

Mitsuboshi

Tsukishima Kirari starring Kusumi Koharu

2007-02-28

10

4

25 ~Vingt-Cinq~

Abe Natsumi

2007-03-14

7

5

SEXY 8 BEAT

Morning Musume

2007-03-21

11

7

2 mini ~Ikiru to Iu Chikara~

C-ute

2007-04-18

5

5

1st GAM ~Amai Yuuwaku~

GAM

2007-05-23

11

7

4th Ai no Nanchara Shisuu

Berryz Koubou

2007-08-01

11

7

How to use SEXY

Goto Maki

2007-09-19

10

7

Double Rainbow

Matsuura Aya

2007-10-10

11

9

Morning Musume ALL SINGLES COMPLETE ~10th ANNIVERSARY~

Morning Musume

2007-10-24

35

1

v-u-den Single Best 9 Vol.1 Omaketsuki

v-u-den

2007-11-21

10

1

Pucchi Best 8

various

2007-12-12

17

1

Melon Juice

Melon Kinenbi

2007-12-12

7

5

Kirarin Land

Tsukishima Kirari starring Kusumi Koharu

2007-12-19

11

5

1st GOODSAL

Ongaku Gatas

2008-02-06

10

8

Café Buono!

Buono!

2008-02-20

12

9

3rd ~LOVE Escalation~

C-ute

2008-03-12

10

6

Hmm… interesting facts:

H!P released more albums in 2007 (13) than in any previous year.

The only completely original (no covers at all) album H!P has ever released is C-ute’s 2 mini ~Ikiru to Iu Chikara~ (2007).

A total of 48 albums (not counting the Pucchi Best series) have been subject to “Tsunkudexing”, the practice of incorporating an album’s ordinal index into its title.